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Re: perceptual audio evaluation tests



Regarding the dimensionality:
A multiple stimuli test (like MUSHRA) can only access one attribute per test. What about running multiple tests, where each test accesses one attribute (e.g. timbre, spatial characteristics, ...)? Alternatively, letting the listeners rate according to preference is another option.

What do you mean

James Johnston schrieb:
The problem I have with MUSHRA is that quality is not a 1-dimensional quantity, and quality is not necessarily transitive, either.

On Wed, Dec 17, 2014 at 12:13 AM, Christian Uhle <christian.uhle@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:christian.uhle@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:

    Dear Mark,

    I'm not aware of a standardized method for subjective testing
    (i.e. listening tests) for source separation.
    I recommend a testing similar to MUSHRA, i.e. a multiple stimuli
    test with hidden reference and anchor.

    For the reference (and hidden reference) the best option IMO is to
    start with signals where the desired signal and the interfering
    signals are separately available. The reference signal is then
    either the desried signal or as a mixture of the desired and
    interfering signal where the interferer is attenuated (in case
    your separation does not aim at complete separation but at an
    enhancement of the desired signal w.r.t the interferer).

    For the anchor: the standard 3.5 kHz low-pass filtered signal is
    one option. Of course, the other conditions (aka processed
    signals) should not sound much worse than the anchor. So, the
    processing for deriving the anchor signals depends a bit on the
    conditions under test. Starting with an oracle mask,  introducing
    degradations to it and computing an output signal is one option
    when testing BSS methods that are based on spectral weighting.
    Also, having more interefer in the anchor thn in the conditions
    under test might be good.

    The main problem IMO is this:
    when using a MUSHRA test for accessing the quality of let's say an
    audio codec, we often ask for transparency. This is a
    one-dimensional quantity.
    Evaluation of BSS is about a multi-dimensional quantity: 1)
    reducing the interference and 2) sound quality are the most
    important dimensions here.
    You can either ask the test listeners for a combined rating (in a
    preference test) or you ask for ratings regarding each of the
    characteristics separately.
    This depends a bit on the aim of the test (e.g. an aim could be
    comparing different methods in order to decide which one to buy,
    or testing during development for the purpose of tuning).

    Good luck,
    Christian

    Mark Cartwright schrieb:

        Hello,

        I'm looking for the list's opinions on perceptual audio
        evaluation listening tests for signals that have large
        impairments. In particular, I'm primarily interested in the
        evaluation of the output of source separation algorithms. What
        standardized tests do people recommend (e.g. ITU-R BS.1534-2 /
        MUSRHA,  ITU-T P.800, etc.) and what are their pros and cons?
        Also, are there other tests that are preferred over these but
        have not yet been standardized?

        Thanks!

        Mark

-- Mark Cartwright <mcartwright@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
        <mailto:mcartwright@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
        <mailto:mcartwright@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
        <mailto:mcartwright@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>>
        PhD Candidate in Computer Science
        Interactive Audio Lab <http://music.cs.northwestern.edu/>,
        Northwestern University
        www.markcartwright.com <http://www.markcartwright.com>
        <http://www.markcartwright.com/>



-- Dr.-Ing. Christian Uhle
    Senior Scientist
    AudioLabs-IIS
    Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS

    Am Wolfsmantel 33
    91058 Erlangen
    Germany
    E-mail: christian.uhle@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    <mailto:christian.uhle@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
    Phone:  +49(0) 9131 / 776 - 6230
    Fax:    +49(0) 9131 / 776 - 6099

    http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/amm/
    http://www.audioblog.iis.fraunhofer.com

    Meet us at these events:

    CES Las Vegas, January 6-9, 2015
    MWC Barcelona, March 2-5, 2015
    NAB Las Vegas, April 13-16, 2015
    ...



--
James D. (jj) Johnston
Independent Audio and Electroacoustics Consultant


--
Dr.-Ing. Christian Uhle
Senior Scientist
AudioLabs-IIS
Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS

Am Wolfsmantel 33
91058 Erlangen
Germany
E-mail: christian.uhle@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Phone:  +49(0) 9131 / 776 - 6230
Fax:    +49(0) 9131 / 776 - 6099

http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/amm/
http://www.audioblog.iis.fraunhofer.com

Meet us at these events:

CES Las Vegas, January 6-9, 2015
MWC Barcelona, March 2-5, 2015
NAB Las Vegas, April 13-16, 2015
...